Method of uniting metal surfaces by means of fluid-pressure.



No. 662,791. Patented Nov. 27, |900. C. HUBER.

METHOD 0F UNITING METAL SUBFACES BY MEANS 0F FLUID PRESSURE.

(Application filed Jan. 29, 1900A (No Model.)

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CARL HUBER, OF CARLSRUHE, GERMANY.

METHOD 0F UNlTING METAL SUHFACES BY MEANS OF l`LUlD-PRESSURE.l

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,791, dated November27, 1900.

Application filed January 29, 1900. Serial NO- 3,207. (No model.)

To tl whom t may concern:

Ee it known that I, CARL HUBER, a citizen of Austria, residing at 3SBeiertheimer Allee, Carlsruhe, Baden, in the Empire of Germany, haveinvented a certain new and useful Method of Uniting Metal Surfaces byMeans of Fluid-Pressure, (for which application has been made for apatent in Great Britain, dated July 3, 1899, No. l3,785,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

It has been proposed to effect the uniting or welding together of metalobjects by the agency of fluid-pressure by fitting together the surfacesof the said objects to be united and then placing them within strongdivided molds, so that the outer surface of the one object abuts againstthe lnold, while the outer surface of the other object is subjected topowerful fiuid-pressure exerted within the mold, whereby the innersurfaces of the two objects are pressed together with such force as tobecome firmly united together. This method of operating is subject tonumerous disadvantages, among which may be mentioned the great expensenecessarily entailed in providing a strong mold for every differentshape of the objects to be united and the great difficulty experiencedin making the joints of the divided mold sufficiently strong andtluid-tight to resist the Very high pressure to which the fluid in themold requires to be subjected.

The present invention has for its object to entirely do away with thenecessity of a strong mold or jigger and overcome the disadvantages setforth in the preceding paragraph; and it consists simply in fittingtogether the surfaces of the objects to be united together and thenhermetically inclosing such surfaces by applying all around the meetingedges a plastic impermeable packing material, after which the entirecombined objects are placed freely within a strong chamber charged withsuitable fluid, which is then subjected to a very high pressure by asuitable known means. Thus the duid-pressure thus produced is exercisedover the whole of the eXh posed surfaces of the combined objects, but iseffectually prevented by the said impermeable packing material fromgainiu g access to the inclosed surfaces to be united, so that thepressure exerted externally on the eX- posed parts will force the saidsurfaces in contact with each other with such power that they becomefirmly united together. This method of operating can be applied to agreat variety of purposes. Thus it may be used for uniting two or moretubes together-such, for example, as for making the tubular joints ofcycle-frames. In this application, a part of one tube having been fittedinto a part of another tube or into a tubular socket to which it is tobe united, the communications with the surfaces in contact of the tubesor of the tube and socket are closed by suitable means, such as by apacking of caoutchouc or other material, or by soldering or tinning, orby inclosingthe joined tubes in an envelop of closely-adhering more orless plastic substance. Upon then introducing the tubular frame into thebeforementioned pressurechamber and filling this4 with the duid orplastic pressure medium this will not only surround the outer surface ofthe frame, but also the interior thereof, so that when the pressuremedium is subjected to a sufficiently'- powerful pressure, such as bythe plunger of a hydraulic press entering an aperture in thepressure-chamber, the tubular joint will be subjected to such pressureboth on its inner and outer surfaces that the surfaces in contact willbe forced together, so as to become firmly united. Itis to be observedthat with the above-described method of operating it is necessary thatthe ends of the tubes B, C, D, and E that are within the socket-piece Ashall be closed up, as shown, in order that the liquid under pressuremay not gain access to the inner meeting edges of the surfaces inContact, as these edges are not inclosed by the plastic material. Inlike xnannerany number of tubes fitted one within the other may befirmly united together by closing the annular interstices between thetubes at the ends by suitable packing and then subjecting the interiorof the innermost tube and the exterior of the outermost tube to theaction of the pressure medium, as above described. In this mannergun-barrels, ord* nance, pressure-chambers, and the like can be built upof a number of concentric tubes.

The invention is also applicable to the coating of sheet metal ortubular metal objects with another metal, such as for coating cop- IOO.of a tubular socket-piece.

per, brass, iron or steel plates or tubes with silver, nickel,aluminium, and the like. For this purpose it is only necessary to closethe interstices between the metal plates at the edges of the plates bysuitable packing or, in the case of fiat plates or objects, to inclosethem entirely in a flexible or plastic and hermetically-closed envelop,and then subject them to the action .of the pressure medium within thepressure-chamber, as described.

Figure 1 illustrates a longitudinal section Fig. 2 illustrates across-section of a metal plate. Fig. 3 illustrates a vertical section oftwo or more concentric tubes.

Fig. l of the accompanying drawings shows by way of example alongitudinal section of a tubular socket-piece A, to which tubes B C D Eare to be united by hydraulic pressure by the above-described method.For this purpose the said tubes having had their surfaces suitablyprepared and fitted into the socket-piece A the crevices between theextremities of the socket at a a a are hermetically inclosed by asuitable plastic impermeable packing material F, and the combined partsare then placed within a strong chamber, of any suitable construction,which after being closed is charged with liquid under high pressure.This pressure in acting both against the inner surfaces of the tubes B CD E and upon the outersurfaces ofthe socketpiece A through the medium ofthe plastic material F will cause the surfaces of the tubes and socketthat are in contact to be firmly united or welded together.

1t is to be observed that with the abovedescribed method of operating itis necessary the ends of the tubes B, C, D, and E that are wit-hin thesocket-piece A shall be closed up, as shown, in order that the liquidunder pressure may not gain access to the inner meeting edges of thesurfaces in contact which are not inclosed by the plastic material.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of a metal plate G, which is to be coatedon one or both sides with thin plates or foils of another metal H, suchas gold or silver. For this purpose the surfaces to be united beingsuitably prepared in any well-known manner the parts G and H are fittedtogether, and the peripheral edges having been hermetically inclosed byplastic impermeable packing F the combined plates are introduced into achamber charged with pressure fluid and are there subjected to a highpressure on all the exposed surfaces, so that the plates or foils H willbe firmly united to the plate G by means of such pressure. It Will beseen that in this figure G may also represent a cylindrical bar of metalover which is slid a closely-fitting tube H of another metal, so that onthe ends being hermetically inclosed by the packing material F and thewhole subjected to fluid-pressure the tube H will be pressed against thebar G with such pressure as to be firmly united therewith. In likemanner two or more concentrictubes or cylinders l and J, Fig. 3, may befirmly united together by hermetically inclosing the meeting edges atthe ends by plastic packing F and the-n subjecting them internally andexternally to fluid-pressure, as before.

lt will be seen in all the above-described applications of the inventionthat although the packing F is of a plastic nature, and therefore liableto yield to pressure, it cannot be deformed by the fluid pressure towhich it is subjected7 because such pressure being exerted equally uponevery part of its outer surface the pressure exerted upon one part willbe perfectly balanced by the pressure upon another part and cannottherefore produce any deformation.

The pressure-chambers for carrying out my said invention may be of anysuitable known construction; but by preference l employ for this purposepressure-chambers such as are described in my application bearing equaldate herewith.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means lknow for carrying the same into practical effect, l claiml. In a methodof uniting metal surfaces by means of lfluid-pressure, hermeticallyinclosing the contiguous surfaces to be united by the application ofplastic impervious packing` material over the meeting edges of thesurfaces and subjecting the whole to liquidpressure in a chamber,substantially as described.

2. In a method of uniting the surfaces of metal tubular objects by meansof fluid-pressure, hermetically inclosing the contiguous surfaces of thetubular objects by the application of plastic impervious material overthe joint between the two surfaces and subjecting the whole toliquid-pressure in a chamber, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CARL HUBER.

Witnesses:

JACOB ADRIAN, CARL BLATT.

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